The Commander of operation ‘Ocean Shield’ visits the South Korean Expeditionary Group Command

Spanish Rear-admiral Eugenio Díaz del Río and the commander of the South Korean Expeditionary Group, Captain Sung-Mok Choi, met on board the South Korean warship ‘Choi Young’.

The frigate ‘Álvaro de Bazán’ dispatched a boat with RA Díaz del Río and his entourage, and was welcomed by Captain Choi. Both Commanders and their Staffs analyzed current pirate activities in the area and their foreseeable development in the near future.

The meeting served to update the cooperation process among all forces involved in the different counter-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean. RA Díaz del Río stressed that ‘our endeavor and its efficiency is the responsibility of all stakeholders concerned. In this respect, South Korea is a key actor and we intend to continue with the intense cooperation levels achieved so far’.

Background

NATO contributes to the international endeavors fighting piracy in the Horn of Africa since 2008. It provides escort to WFP (World Food Program) ships and protects shipping in the area. In addition to these activities, NATO takes part in different regional programs to enhance local capabilities to counter piracy.